. I'm afraid it has. But if it _hasn't_, there are two troops in
it and their _lives depend on you_. Now get out of here--quick!"

"What was that?" Hervey said, pausing and clutching Tom's arm.

"What was what?"

"That sound--away off. Hear it?"

Amid the wild clamor of the tempest, the dashing of the impeded water
close by, and the ghostly voices up in that mountain wilderness, there
sounded, far off, subdued and steady, a low melodious call, spent and
thin from the distance, and blended with the myriad sounds of the raging
storm.

"_It's the train_," said Tom.

Still Hervey did not move, only clutched his companion's arm. One
second--two seconds--three, four, five, six. The sound died away in the
uproar of wind and rain.... Still the two paused for just a moment more,
as if held by a spell.

"A mile and a half--four miles," said Tom. "Four miles of road. A mile
and a half of hills and swamps. They're at the station now. You _can't_
do it, kid. But you'd better fail trying than not try at all. What do
you say?"

There was no answer, for Hervey Willetts had already plunged into the
torrent, by which hazardous act ten minutes might be saved. Or
everything lost. Tom caught a glimpse of that funny perforated hat
bobbing in the rushing water of the cove, pulled tight down over its
young owner's ears. Sober as his thoughts were in the face of harrowing
peril, he could not repress a smile that Hervey should toss his life so
blithely into the enterprise and yet be careful to save that precious
hat. He was more proud of it than of all his deeds of reckless valor.

Tom knew there was no restraining him, or advising him. He knew no more
of discipline than a skylark does. He was either the best scout in the
world or no scout at all, as you choose to look at it. He was going upon
this business in reckless haste, without forethought or caution. He
would stake his life to save twenty yards of distance. There was no
discretion in his valor. Blithe young gambler that he was, he would do
the thing in his own way. No one could tell him. Tom knew the utter
futility of shouting any last warnings or instructions to him.

For Hervey Willetts was like a shot out of a rifle. With him it was a
case of hit or miss. He had no rules....

CHAPTER VI

SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT

One thing Hervey did bear in mind, and that was what Tom had told him
about how to distinguish a dark object in the dark. He would not
remember this twent